Mitt Romney would be a better U.S. president for Canada than Barack Obama because he’d curb protectionism and expand energy markets, says former American ambassador David Wilkins.

In an interview with the Star on Tuesday in Toronto, Wilkins warned the November presidential vote is a “watershed election” that has significant ramifications for Canada.

Conceding Obama, a Democrat, is “very popular here,” the Republican envoy noted the president’s derailing last month of the Keystone XL pipeline to move Alberta oil to Texas refineries was bad for both countries.

“There is some sort of a separation there between his policies as they affect Canada and the support of Canadians for him. It is somewhat puzzling in my mind,” said Wilkins, former president George W. Bush’s ambassador in Ottawa from 2005 to 2009.

He said Canadians should get to know Romney, son of a Michigan governor and a one-time Massachusetts governor, who is the frontrunner to win the Republican nomination for president.

“He certainly has a lot of knowledge about Canada. He has a lot in common with Canada,” said Wilkins, noting the Romney family has a summer cottage in Grand Bend, Ont.

Beyond that connection and support for Keystone, there is another reason he would be good for Canada: “You’ll have less threat of protectionism.”

That refers to Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act, which, if passed, would mandate the use of U.S.-made materials for all construction, repairs, and maintenance of public buildings and public works.

“If you get a Republican in the White House you won’t have a ‘Buy America’ protectionist provision inserted into a White House-driven jobs bill that’s set forth,” predicted Wilkins.

With Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a trade mission to China now to discuss the Northern Gateway pipeline to Asia, the former diplomat said Americans are watching closely.

“We believe in free enterprise so I don’t think anyone blames Canada for looking to alternative markets once . . . our president rejected the pipeline,” he said.

“If it ever comes to fruition that oil — large quantities of it — is being shipped to Asia instead of the U.S. I think there will be a real concern about it and an even further outcry about the (Obama) decision.”

Regardless of the outcome in November, he said Washington should look north for lessons on righting the ship.

“We need to do what Canada did two decades ago,” said Wilkins, referring to cuts made by former prime minister Jean Chrétien and his finance minister Paul Martin.

“You just made tough decisions and got your fiscal house . . . in order.”

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